Absorption refrigerating system



July 20, 1965 R. G. MINER ABSORPTION REFRIGERATING SYSTEM Filed April 25,- 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Lloo FIG.

INVENTOR.

ROBERT G. MINER m Y ma,

A TTORNE YS SAV IIO

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vllos los July 20 1965 v R. G. MINER wl ABSORPTION REFRIGERATING SYSTEM Filed April 2s, 1962 z sheets-sheet 2 los H2 -||o I' fsAv |2 |29 I I 5 los 12e f las 7 "o7 INVENTOR.

ROBERT G. Mms-:R BY

MVM Fl G. 3 9' ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,195,318 AESRTIN REFRHGERATN@ SYSTEM Robert G. Miner, La Crosse, Wis., assigner to The 'frane Company, La Crosse, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Apr. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 189,335 6 Claims. (Cl. 62-148) This invention relates to absorption refrigerating systems and more particularly to controls for such systems.

The controls for lsuch refrigerating systems commonly provide -means for starting the various parts in sequence responsive to manually closing an electrical circuit to one of the pumps.

it is also common for such controls to provide means for discontinuing operation in such a manner that concentration Iof solution and soliditication is avoided.

It .is an object of this invent-ion to provide means for controlling the refrigeration capacity of an absorption refrigerating system which uses a heated liquid as a source of heat in the generator ofthe system.

It is another object of this invention to pr-ovide con-trol of the heat input t-o the generator of an absorption refrigerating system by varying the temperature of heating liuid entering the generator responsive to the temperature of the evaporator or the liquid cooled by the evaporator.

It is another object of this invention to provide means for slowly increasing the rate of flow of heating medium to the generator of Ian absorption machine when the machine is started after being inoperative.

It is another object of this invention to provide means for slowly increasing the temperature of heating uid supplied to the generator of an absorption refrigerating system Iwhen the system is started after being inoperative.

Other objects and advantages will lbecome apparent as the specification proceeds to describe the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a diagrammatic view of the absorption system including the controls;

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic view of a second form of the absorption system and the controls thereof; and

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view showing details o-f the relay 105 and its associated controls.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the :absorption system shown has a single shell 1l) enclosing a condenser 1,2, a genera-tor 14, an evaporator 16 and an absorber 1S. It should be understood that other arrangements might be used; for instance, the generator yand condenser could be in one shell and the absorber and evaporator could be in a second shell with conduits therebetween for conducting uids. p The absorber I18 has a coil 20 supplied with cooling uid by a pump 2.2 from a source of water 312, which is preferably of substantially const-ant temperature. This cooling fluid is conducted from the coil 20 through a conduit 24 to a cooling coil 26 `in the condenser 12. From the cooling coil 26, the cooling fluid passes through a pneumatic valve 2.3 and thence through a conduit 30 to a cooling tower (not .shownlor to waste. A portion of the uid flowing in pipe 24 may bypass the coil 26 through the conduit 29 according to the position of the pneumatic valve 28 which .is controlled by .pneumatic thermostat 32 which has a `temperature sensing bulb 34 in the liquid in the condenser 112. Refrigerant vapo-r from the generator 14 is condensedin condenser 12 by removal of heat through cooling coil 26,

Various types of refrigerant .and absorbent may be used in the presen-t machine.` A solution of lithium bromide and water is satisfactory. yOther combinations 'of refrigefrants and absorbents may be used if desired.

A solution circulating pump 40 receives solution from the absorber 18 through conduit 4-1, and discharges the ICC solution into a conduit 42 which is connected to a spray tree 44 which sprays the solution into the absorber 18 over the tubes 2li.

A pump 46 draws solution from the Iabsorber 18 through a conduit 43 and discharges t-he solution through a conduit Sti which conducts the iiuid to a heat exchanger S2 from which the fluid flows through a conduit 54 to the generator 14.

The solution in the generator is hea-ted by a coil 56 which is supplied with a heating liquid such as w-ater, Dow-Therm, etc. in a manner described below. Boiling of the solution in the generator causes refrigerant vapors to pass into the condenser 12.

The concentrated solution ilows from the generator 14 through conduit 59 to heat exchanger 52 and thence through conduit 60 and 61 to the absorber 18. The outlet of conduit 61 is adjacent the entrance to conduit 41 and remote from the entrance to conduit 48 so that the solution flowing -in conduit 41 is more concentrated than the solution flowing in conduit 4S. The conduits 41 and 4S may be spaced longitudinally of the shell for the same reason if desired. In the heat exchanger 52, the dilute solution passing from the absorber 18 to the generator 14 is heated .by the concentrated solution flowing from the generator 14 to the absorber 1S.

The fluid in circulation through the coil 65 of the evaporator 16 may be water, brine, or other fluid, but for purposes of explanation, it will be assumed to 4be lwater, and it will be called chilled water. A chilled water pump 67 is connected t-o receive chilled water from a refrigeration load through a conduit 69. After flowing through coil 68, the chilled water is returned to the refri geration load through conduit 65.

The refrigerant condensed in the condenser 12 flows downwardly through an opening 74 into the evaporator '16 The evaporator has a ioat chamber 76 containing )a float switch 77 which opens when the level drops below a predetermined point. A conduit 78 conducts -a refrigerant from the float chamber 76 to a refrigerant pump 80. The refrigerant flows from the .pump 80 through a conduit 31 to a spray tree 32 in the evaporator 16. As indica-ted by arrows, refrigerant vapor flows from the evaporator 116 to the absorber 18 thus causing evaporation and cooling of the refrigerant liquid in the evaporator 16.

A low temperature cut-out switch 96 has a temperature sensitive bulb 97 in the refrigerant in the evaporator 16. Switch 96 initiates a shut down of the machine when the evaporator temperature drops below a predetermined point as explained in detail in my U.S. Patent No. 3,005,318, dated October 24, 1961.

A conduit conducts iiuid from conduit 50 to conduit 42. A valve 85A provides means for regulating ow in conduit 85. As is explained more fully in my U.S. Patent No. 3,005,318, dated October 24, 1961, the absorber recirculation pump 40 and the condenser water pump 22 are the first pumps to be de-energized when the machine is shut down. Inasmuch as the solution pump 46 continues to operate for a timed period, a portion of the solution `delivered by it will flow through conduit 85. This solution will flow by gravity downward through pipe 42, then through pump 46 into conduit 41 and iinally into the bottom of the absorber 18. The more concentrated solution in these conduits and in pump 41B is thus flushed out by the more dilute solution from pump 46 and the danger of solidication in thesepassageways when the system cools down is avoided. The solution in the spray tree 44 drains by gravity when the pump 40 is de-energized. When the machine is in normal opera-tion, the pressure developed by pump 46 opposes ow through conduit 85 so that there is substantially no flow in this conduit 85.

The coil 56 in the generator i4 is supplied with heating liquid by a pump 86 driven by an electric motor or other fluid from conduit 9%. Conduit 9) conducts fluid from` the coil 56 back to the heating source S8. Valve S7 is connected to deliver iluid to the suction of the pump 36. Pneumatic motor @il is of the type commonly used to reciprocate the valve stem of a valve. Motor @l may be of the type shown in Patent No. 2,892,608.

The control of the valve 37 will now be described. A chilled water pneumatic thermostat 92 is connected to the usual source of air under pressure 93 and has a temperature sensitive bulb gli in temperature sensing relationship with the chilled water leaving the evaporator coil 68 through the conduit 65. The temperature in conduit 65 is substantially the same as the temperature of evaporator lo. A rise in temperature of the wat-er in conduit 65 indicates an increase in load imposed upon the system. Thermostat 92 is a commercially available instrument which transmits a signal in the form of pressure, through conduit 95', of a magnitude proportional to the ytemperature of the fluid measured. Thermostat 92 being connected to a source or" pneumatic pressure 93 transmits a signal in ythe form of pressure through conduit 95 to ar emperature limiting thermostat l, Thermostat tli, is a reverse acting pneumatic thermostat which is commercially available and which transmits a signal in the` form or pressure inversely proportional to the temperature measured. Thermostat luf: has a temperature sensitive bulb ltlfl in temperature sensing relationship withk the huid llowing from valve S7 to pump S6 and limits the signal in the form of pressure transmitted to valve 87 to prevent the temperature of water supplied to the generator from exceeding a predetermined value. Thermostat 133 transmits a signal in the form of pressure to a pneumatic relay 165 through conduit lil. Pneumatic relay lit' determines how much of the signal in the form of pres sure in conduit M96 is transmitted to the pneumatic motor 9i of valve 87'. 1

A pressure switch '73 is connected in huid `communica-` tion with conduit 95 and is electrically connected to the electrical control lili). The electrical control lil@ is shown and described in detail in my US. Patent 3,005,318. When the temperature ot the chilled water rises above a predetermined point as sensed by thermostat 92, pressure switch 73 closes and causes control lil@ to go through a starting cycle including energization of pumps 4u, 46, 2.2, Si?, and 67, and also energization of solenoid air valve SAV. Solenoid air valve SAV is connected to a source ot air pressure tu? with a restrictor 10S interposed therebetween, When SAV is energize-d, it opens and transmits air lthrough conduit Illf. to pneumatic relay 105.

interposed conduit lill is an accumulator in the form of a volume tank M2. inasmuch as the volume tank 112 must be filled by air passing through the restrictor 16S, it is possible to make the size of the volume tank and the size of the restrictor such that any desired rate of ncrease in pressure in conduit lll will be obtained. It is thus seen that the volume tank provides a time delay to the increase of pressure imposed on motor 9B.. When solenoid air valve SAV is de-energized, it exhausts air from conduit 1li and volume tank i12 through port 110.

The modification of FTGURE 2 will now be described. Parts which correspond with parts in the form of FlG- URE 1 have the same designating numerals. A hot water boiler M3 has a heat exchanger 115 heated in any suitable 1 manner as by products of combustion. A pump 114 circulates the heating fluid through the system supply main llo and the system return main lle. A conduit lzticonducts fluid from supply main 116 to a normallyiclosed pneumatic two-way valve 122. Valve 122 has an actuating pneumatic motor 123. The conduit 9u conducts liuid to conduit i241- which conducts iiuid to the pump S6. Conduit t? also conducts luid to conduit i215 which in turn conducts l'luid to the return main 11S; When the valve 122 is closed, the pump S merely recirculates liuid leaving the coil S5 through conduit gil and conduit 124. As the demand for heat increases, the valve 122 opens to increase the low of heating huid from the main lle to the pump 86. The pressure in the supply main is considerably greater than the pressure in the return main. Therefore, the position of the valve 1222 determines the temperature of heating duid flowing to the pump 86 and thence to the generator. Thermostat 163 havinga bulb ldd limits the pressure transmitted to the motor M3 of valve 122 to prevent the temperature of the Water flowing to pump S6 from exceeding a predetermined value. An increase .in temperature of the chilled-water, indicating an increase in load on the machine, increases the temperature of water supplied to the machine to increase its output. This form of the invention of FIGURE 2, has the relay 165, the volume tank lli, the solenoid valve SAV, the restrictor 16S and the source of pressure 197 connected in a like mannerto that shown and described with reference to FTGURE l. The form of FIGURE 2 also has the pressure switch '73 and the control mechanism ttl@ which controls energization of solenoid valve SAV in the same manner as described with reference to FGURE l.

Referring now to FGURE 3, tie relay 165 from Fit- URE l is shown in detail. The relay lit' receives a con trol pressure from thermostat ll through conduit lite, A valve plug i215 moves with respect to port to determine how much of this pressure is transmittedto the valve ltaf". A spool 127 moves the valve plug T25 against the torce of a spring t28. The spool 127 is mounted in flexible diaphragms l29 and 13d which form a iirst chamber 131 in communication with conduit lll and a second chamber 132 open to the atmosphere through opening T33. Diaphragm T139 alsortorms a third chamberid. As explained above, air is admitted to chamber according to the position of valve plug 12S with respect to the port i276, Air is exhausted from chamber 134 through hole 135 in spool T27 according to the position of spool 127 with'respect to valve plug 25. lt is thus seen that relay 1&5 will transmit from thermostat 193 to valve 87 a pressure equal to 'but not greater than the pressure received from conduit lll. Air flows at a slow rate rom source 197 through restrictor 168 to conduit lil. Therefore, when solenoid valve SAV is rst energized, it takes a considerable period of time for pressure to build up in tank 112 which has a relatively large volume. Inasmuch as tank M2 is in lluid communication with conduit lill, the pressure in conduit 112i is always equal to that in tank i12. In view of the `above explanation it is apparent that on startup of the system the pressure transmitted by relay 1&5 to the motor L23 of valve 87 increases at a slow rate after valve SAV is first opened. The slow rate of opening of valve $57 prevents abnormal operation of the absorption system which would occur if heat were applied suddenly to the generator Ile.` Such abnormal operation can cause noise and it can damage the system.

The slow rate o'opening of valve 87 also has the advantage that a sudden load is not put on the heating source supplying the absorption system. A sudden load could deprive other machines supplied. by the same source of heating liquid and cause them to lose control.

The operation of the system will now be described. Referring to FTGURE 1, when the chilled water thermostat 92 senses an 4increase of the temperature of the liquid in the conduit odas a result of an increase in the cooling load of the system, it will increase its air pressure in the conduit 95. Subject to its temperature limiting function, thermostat w3 transmits 'this increased pressure to the motor 91 of valve 37. This increase in pressure will cause the threeuvay valve 87 to reduce the llow of recirculated heating nedium through the conduit @9 and increase the quantity of heating medium liowing to the pump 86 from the source 88 thus increasing the quantity of heat supplied to the generator 56. r[his increase in heat input will continue until `the entire system reaches a new equilibrium where the amount of heating medium introduced into the loop, consisting of the pump 86, the generator 56, .the conduit 90, and the bypass conduit 89, is just suficient to provide the necessary cooling effect to maintain the temperature in the conduit 65 at the setting of the chilled water thermostat 92.

On reduction in load on the cooling system, the reverse will occur. The chilled water thermostat 92 will reduce the pressure transmitted through conduit 95 and thence through thermostat 103 to the motor of valve 87 to increase the recirculated heating medium through the conbe made without departing from the spirit of my inven tion, -and I desire to be limited only by the claims.

I claim:

1. In an absorption refrigerating system, the combination of' an absorber, an evaporator, a condenser and a generator placed in a closed circuit, the circuit containing a solution of an absorbent and a refrigerant, a normally closed valve for regulating the flow of heating fluid in heat transfer relationship with said generator, `a motor for controlling `sa-id valve, a pneumatic thermostat for transmitting a -signal to said motor to open said valve responsive to the temperature of said evaporator, means for reducing the signal transmitted to said motor, and time delay means responsive to the temperature of said evaporator for progressively rendering said signal reducing means ineffective.

2. In an absorption refrigeration system, the combination of an absorber, an evaporator, a condenser, and a generator placed in a closed circuit, the circuit containing a solution of an absorbent .and a refrigerant, valve means for regulating the ow of heating medium in heat transfer relationship with said generator, a motor for operating said Valve means, thermostatic means responsive to load conditions for controlling said motor, means for restricting the rate at which said motor operates said valve means to increase the rate of flow of heating med-ium in heat transfer relationship with said generator and time delay means responsive to `a condition indicating the need for operation of said .system for rendering said restricting me-ans inoperative.

3. In an absorption refrigeration system, the combination lof an absorber, an evaporator, a condenser, and a generator placed in a closed circuit, the circuit containing a solution of an absorbent and a refrigerant, valve means for regulating the Iflow of heating fluid in heat transfer relationship with said generator, a motor for controlling said valve means, thermostatic means responsive to the temperature of said evaporator for controlling said motor, means for starting ope-ration of the system responsive to the temperature of said evaporator, means responsive to said starting means for 4reducing the effect of said thermostatic means on said motor, and time delay means for rendering said reducing means ineffective.

4. In an absorption refrigerating system, the combination of an absorber, an evaporator, a condenser and a generator placed in a closed circuit, the circuit containing a solution of an absorbent and a refrigerant, valve for regulating the -ow of heating uid in heat transfer relationship with said generator, .a motor for controlling said valve, a pneumatic thermostat for controlling said motor responsive to the temperature of Isaid evaporator, conduit connecting said pneumatic thermo-stat to said mot-or to transmit control pressure from sai-d pneumatic thermostat to said motor, a first means in said conduit for controlling the pressure transmitted from said thermostat to said motor, second means responsive to the temperature of said evaporator for connecting said first means to a source of air under pressure, accumulating means between said second means and said rst means to time delay the effect of said first means on the pressure transmitted from said thermostat to said mot-or.

5. In an absorption refrigerating system, the combination of an absorber, an evaporator, a condenser and a generator placed in a closed circuit, the circuit containing a solution of an absorbent and a refrigerant, a normally closed valve for regulating the flow of heating fluid in `heat transfer relationship with said generator, a motor for controlling said normally closed valve, a pneumatic thermostat for controlling said motor responsive to the temperature of said evaporator, conduit connecting said pneumatic thermostat to said motor to transmit control pressure from said pneumatic thermostat to said motor, a relay in said conduit for controlling the pressure transmitted from said thermostat to said motor, means responsive to the temperature of said evaporator for connecting said relay to a source of air under pressure, accumulating means between said last mentioned means and said relay to time delay the rate of transition of said relay from minimum pressure transmitting operation to maximum pressure transmitting operation.

6. AIn an absorption refrigerating system, the combination of an absorber, an evaporator, a condenser and a generator placed in a closed circuit, the circuit containing a solution of an absorbent and a refrigerant, a normally closed valve for regulating the flow of heating uid from a source to heat transfer relationship with said generator, a motor for controlling said normally closed valve, a first pneumatic thermostat for controlling said motor responsive to the temperature of said evaporator, conduit connecting said first pneumatic thermostat to said motor to transmit control pressure from said pneumatic thermostat to said motor, a second pneumatic thermostat interposed in said conduit between said rst pneumatic thermostat and said valve, said second pneumatic thermostat being responsive to the temperature of heating duid owing to said generator and having' means to reduce the pressure transmitted to said valve to prevent the temperature of heating fluid supplied to said generator from exceeding a predetermined value, a relay in said conduit for reducing the pressure transmitted to said motor, means responsive to said pneumatic thermostat for connecting said relay to a source of air under pressure, -accumulating means between said last mentioned means and said relay to ltime delay the progress of said relay from minimum pressure transmitting operation to maximum pressure transmitting operation.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,733,575 2/56 Leonard 62-104 2,770,953v 11/56 Leonard 62-104 2,817,213 12/57 Miner 62-230 3,002,359 10/ 61 Miner 62-148 3,005,318 10/61 Miner 62-141 3,019,613 2/62 Leonard 62-141 X 3,019,616 2/ 62 Papapanu 62--141 3,053,056 9/ 62 Leonard 62-104 ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

0 EDWARD I. MICHAEL, Examiner. 

1. IN AN ABSORPTION REFRIGERATING SYSTEM, THE COMBINATION OF AN ABSORBER, AN EVAPORATOR, A CONDENSER AND A GENERATOR PLACED IN A CLOSED CIRCUIT, THE CIRCUIT CONTAINING A SOLUTION OF AN ABSORBENT AND A REFRIGERANT, A NORMALLY CLOSED VALVE FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OF HEATING FLUID IN HEAT TRANSFER RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID GENERATOR, A MOTOR FOR CONTROLLING SAID VALVE, A PNEUMATIC THERMOSTAT FOR TRANSMITTING A SIGNAL TO SAID MOTOR TO OPEN SAID VALVE RESPONSIVE TO THE TEMPERATURE OF SAID EVAPORATOR, MEANS FOR REDUCING THE SIGNAL TRANSMITTED TO SAID MOTOR, AND TIME DELAY MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE TEMPERATURE OF SAID EVAPORATOR FOR PROGRESSIVELY RENDERING SAID SIGNAL REDUCING MEANS INEFFECTIVE. 